Emily Stone’s commencement ceremony Saturday was made a little more special because she didn’t know if she would be there.
“For the first 55 days in the hospital going through intensive chemo, the only thing I thought about was surviving,” Stone said of her struggle with cancer.
Stone, along with thousands of other students, graduated from National University in a huge ceremony at Petco Park.
Right before Stone finished the nursing program at National University she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
“I started realizing I worked so hard for this degree, I need to just finish it out,” she told NBC 7.
Stone, a military spouse with two young children, had strong support from both her family and classmates.
“My husband made it possible for me to get my books and set up a study area for me,” she explained. “I was able to finish my degree from my hospital bed, my clinical hours were virtual.”
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The graduate, who just found out she is officially a registered nurse, is now in remission.
“Here I am today, my hair is growing out, I'm healthy.”
She said on her graduation day she was thinking of her children.
“It’s a positive image for them to see all of us go through trial and tribulation and to come out with a degree and come out on the other side of it successful,” she said.
